Negaso Blames Government for Current unrest in Oromia

Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)

May 28, 2004
Posted to the web May 28, 2004

Dr Negaso Gidada, former President of Ethiopia, said last week that the unrest in many parts of the country was the result of the maltreatment of the Oromo people by the government.

Speaking at a meeting organized by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) held last Saturday at Ghion Hotel, Dr. Negaso said that the unrest was the reflection of prolonged human rights violations and undue pressure put on the Oromo people.

" The demand of the Oromo people remains unheeded despite repeated calls for democracy in the country. Instead, human rights violations continued to be a daily feature of life in the Oromia region," he said.

"People are killed, maimed and many had been physically assaulted and subjected to forced migration. Although the Oromo people constitute a greater portion of the county's population, they have minimal participation in politics and trade activities in the country. They are deprived of equal job opportunities and access to land," he added.

He said these and other human rights violations were the source of conflicts and unrest in the country.

Dr Taye Woldesamayat, president of Ethiopian Teachers Asssociation, who also spoke on the occasion, said that lack of unity among the Ethiopian people had enabled the government to hang on to power for 13 years.